Toy



5 Sheets-Sheet l T.R.BUsH

TOY

Filed June 5. 1944 Jnlllnulmu May 7,1946. T. R. BUSH l 2,399,983

TOY

v Filed ,June 5, 1944 5 Sheets-sheet 2 2:52,- E l 3121.5 :Eri-iz.. 7

' V JNVENTOR, l

. BY/ f ITL-T. E 7;*9/ f 4 A 7' roR/VEY May 7, 1946. T. R. BUSH 2,399,983

` TOY Filed June 5, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3` ATTORNY 3 INVENTORS Patented May 7, 1946 ESPATENT y ori-ics 'roY y Y Thomas R. Bush, McKenzie, Tenn. i Application June s, 1944, seri'arNo.' 538,74*/V Y;

` (ci. 4c-1o1) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to toys of the mechanical toy type, and the object of the inventor is to produce a toy with an oscillating platform which is alternately inclined and on which a wheeled figure,` here shown as a wheelbarrow, is seemingly propelled by a walking figure simulating a toy man; the movement of these figures being accomplished by gravityvon the inclined surface of the platform the inclination of which is successively changed as the moving figures reach the ends of the platform; and the invention furthermore includes mechanically operated means for successively elevating the ends of the platform at locations at the sides of a fulcrum on which the platform is oscllatable.

It is a further object of the invention to provide mechanical toys or objects at the ends of the platform which are `successively raised or elevated as the platform is manipulated, one such figure having articulating arms associated with means for oscillating the arms in order that they may engage a portion of the wheeled object'and give impetus to the toy, of such a nature as to insure the initial movement of the toy down the inclined surface of the platform; and the invention furthermore includes the provision of a simulated toy man having an articulated leg and foot which is likewise operated successively with the figure at the other end of the platform to give initial movement to the Wheeled toy or parts associated with it.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a toy which will be hereinafter referred to as the Walking toy, that is the one associated with the wheeled portion of the movable objects, with articulated legs which alternately swing in step-like motions as it advances on the platform, and to associate therewith, novel means for regushowing a fragment of the base and platform,

lating the length of step or stride aorded the simulated legs of the toy in order that its progress or motion may be curtailed; means being also provided for the manual manipulation of the aforesaid regulating instrumentality.

It is furthermore an object ofthe invention to provide a platform mounted for oscillation in the manner of a seesaw, novel means being provided for supporting the platform on a base, and to provide means associated with the base and the articulating members of the toys at the ends of the platform whereby they are automatically moved as the ends of the platform ascend, it being understood that the parts are returned to normal positions by gravity when the ends of the pla*- form on which they are mounted descend.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference and a gure at one end of the platform;

Figure 6 illustrates a sectional view approxi,- mately onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 illustrates a view in elevation of the rear of the figure shown in Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 illustrates an enlarged detail view of the figure at the opposite `end of the platform;

Figure 9 illustrates a sectional View on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Figure 10 illustrates a view in rear elevation of the said figure;

Figure 11 illustrates a view in side elevation of the walking figure of the toy;

Figure 12 illustrates a sectional view on the line I2I2 of Fig. 11; i

Figure 13 illustrates a sectional view on the I3--I3 of Fig. 1l;

Figure 14 illustrates a sectional view on the line M-M of 'Fis'. 13;

Figure 15 illustrates a sectional view of the toy on the line |5-l 5 of Fig. 14;

Figure 16 illustrates a sectional view of the toy on the line lB--I 6 of Fig. 14; and

Figure 17 illustrates a sectional view of the toy on the line I'l-I'I of Fig. 14.

In these drawings 20 denotes a base which is in the nature of an elongated board, or the like, having recesses 2 I, through which recesses pintles 22 extend, and into which recesses tongues 23 are partially rotated `on the pintles 22, said pintles extending through appropriate apertures of the tongues; and the said tongues are integral with a cross-piece 24 attached to the under surface of a platform 25 which oscillates so that its ends are successively raised and lowered in the manner of a seesaw. The cross-piece is attached to the platform in appropriate manner by fastenings 2E such as screws, nails or the like.

At a suitable distance between the cross-piece and the ends of the platform, means are provided for alternately lifting or raising the ends of the platform and, as here shown, thesaid means each comprises a length of metal bent to form a central crank 21 with the parts of the metal integral with the cranked portion forming journals, as at 28, that are partially rotatable on the upper surface of the base and are held in place by fasline form, the said platform is moved to inclined pOS- tions and held until they are further manipu-A lated. Near each end of the platform a batten 3| is anchored and it acts as an abutment or stop to the movement of the wheeled toy which travels down the platform when it is in an inclined position.

In the present illustration, the traveling -toy comprises a simulated wheelbarrow 32 having handles 33 and a supportingl wheel 34, and the wheelbarrow may be illustrated as appropriately loaded with material to `be transported. The walking figure 35 of the traveling toy has a simulated body 36, with simulated depending arms 31, and in the space between the arms, the upper ends of the legs 38 are oscillatably mounted on a pintle 39. The oscillatory movement of the legs in one direction is limited by a cross-brace 4D extending through the arms and across the space where the legs oscillate, and on the opposite side the oscillatory movement of the legs is controlled by a depending plate or apron 4l which is slidable vertically of the figure under the influence of a rod d2 that extends through the top of the figure and has a knob by which it may be grasped by an operator for manipulating the rod and controlling the position of the apron. When the apron is lowered, the forward movement of the legs will be restricted as compared with the movement allowed them when it is elevated, this being clearly apparent from an inspection of Fig. 14.

The handles 33 of the wheelbarrow are lodged in recesses 43 at the ends of the simulated arms and are held therein by metal staples 44 which have horizontal portions extending through the arms and depending portions anchored in the handles, thus creating a strong and durable joint between the simulated arms of the toy, and the said handles. Simulated feet 45 are mounted on the ends of the legs and they have relatively broad areas at the bottom, as at 46, where ther7 contact the platform and their faces or surfaces may be slightly beveled toward the ends to facilitate the walking movement. A spacing ring '41 is applied to the pintle 39 between those portions of the legs which are mounted on the pintle and it serves to hold the legs in proper position and obviates friction.

The figures 48 and 4S at the endsI of the platform are stationarily mounted through the employment of anchoring pinsv such as 50, and the figure 48 has one of its legs 5| oscillatively mounted on a pivot 52. The said leg has a simulated shoe 53 on its end and when the leg is moved or swung outwardly as shown in Fig. 5, it will strike an end of the wheelbarrow handle and serve to give impetus to the wheeled toy. It is seen that the swinging movement of the leg El is occasioned by the fiexible connection or chain 54 which has one end anchored to an eye 55 attached t-o the leg 5l, and its opposite end anchored as at 56 to the base, it being understood that as the end of the platform on which the figure 48 is lowered or depressed, the leg will descend by gravity to its normal position.

The gure 49 has oscillatable arms 51 mounted on a pivot 58 and these arms are connected together above the pivot yby links 59, to the inner endsof which links a flexible member 'or chain 6D is attached, and the said flexible member or chain has its opposite end anchored to the base as at 6 I. Hence, the assembly disclosed causes the actuation of the arms from their full line positions shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 to the dotted line position in which the parts are shown in Fig. 8, and the relation of parts is such that as the arms are moved upwardly, they encounter the ends of the handle of the wheelbarrow and give initial impetus to the movable tog; it being understood that when the wheelbarrow has reached the abutment at the end of the platform it will be arrested by 'the hatten 3l and may then be reversed as to position so that it will be travelling in a direction opposite to that in which it is shown in Fig. 1 after the platform has been appropriately adjusted to change its inclination.

With further reference to Figures 13 and 14, it is seen that the plate 4I has edge surfaces 4ta which are engaged by pinsv Mb which serve to brace the said plate at its rear, and that the plate is engaged on its front surface by a rod 4I so that it is held in position against the action of the legs which might strike it. The rear surface of the plate is provided with recesses Md which affords a clearance for the free movement of the legs during their' oscillation.

I claim:

1. In a toy, a base, a platform having a fulcrum supported by the base, means on the base at either side of the fulcrum for alternately raising and' supporting the platform in inclined positions, a mechanical figure at each end of the platform having articulating elements, a member anchored to the base at each end and connected to an articulating element on the adjacent end of the platform, and a perambulating figure movable on the inclined surface of the platform, the said perambulating figure being initially impelled by thegure at either end of the platform and kept in motion by gravity.

2. In a toy, a base, a platform having a fulcrum supported by the'base, means on the base at either side of the fulcrum for alternately raising and supporting the platform in inclined positions, a mechanical figure at each end of the platform having articulating elements, a member anchored to the base at each end and connected to an articulating element on the adjacent end of the platform, a perambulating figure movable on theinclined surface of the platform, the

said perambulating figure being initially impelled by the ligure at either end of the platform and kept in motion by gravity, the said perambulating figure comprising a wheeled carrier and a simulated person by which a portion ofthe car- .rier is supported, the said simulated person comprising a body and articulating legs oscillatably mounted thereon, the said legs terminating in simulatedI feet which advance step-by-step on the platform.

THOMAS R. BUSH. 

